Here are the winners of Instagram’s inaugural award for groundbreaking creators

A makeup illusionist, a photography project, and an innovative DJ are among the winners of Instagram’s inaugural Rings awards. 

The award, whose recipients were announced on Thursday, celebrates 25 creators who, in the company’s words, “bring people together over creativity” and “aren’t afraid to take creative chances and do it their way.” 

Among the winners is Mimi Choi, known for turning her face into mind-bending works of art. Celebrating her win, she penned in an Instagram post: “Because of its visual nature, Instagram has really helped spread my work and jump-start my career, providing me with numerous different types of collaboration opportunities that I couldn’t have even dreamed of when I began this journey.⁣⁣⁣”

Then there’s Life on Film. Run by Grant Weintrob, Christian Baiocco, and Griffin Katz, the Instagram-first creative project hands out disposable cameras to strangers, as well as to some recognizable faces, turning their candid shots into cinematic Reels. 

DJ AG Online, another winner, has accrued tens of millions of views online by transforming the streets of London into spontaneous DJ sets. Self-identifying as an “open format DJ,” he joins the list of creatives awarded with both a physical gold ring designed by Grace Wales Bonner and a golden halo that sits around their profiles. 

The full list of 2025 winners are Aki and Koichi, Ari Miller, Brian Lindo, Chris Brickley, Cole Bennett, Ashley Gordon, Dolly Singh, Elyse Myers, Futuradosmil, Gabriel Moses, Golloria, Laufey, lifeonfilm, Linda Lomelino, Mimi Choi, Nigel Sylvester, Mika Ninagawa, Olivia Dean, Adrian Per, Sebastian Jern, Katie Krejci, Mohammed and Humaid Hadban, Thalita and Gabriela Zukeram, Tyshawn Jones, and Zarna Garg. 

While many of the winners have established followings, that wasn’t a factor in the judging process. Instead, each winner was honored by their peers. A panel of creatives—spanning fashion and makeup to sports and entertainment—each nominated their own favorite creators and voted on which 25 of Instagram’s 3 billion users would be among the first to receive the honor. 

The panel of judges included fashion and jewelry designer Grace Wales Bonner, who designed the gold ring each winner will receive; movie director Spike Lee; fashion designer Marc Jacobs; artist Kaws; makeup artist Pat McGrath; influencer Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD; actress Yara Shahidi; pastry chef Cédric Grolet; Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher; music producer and songwriter Tainy; photographer Murad Osmann; Instagram exec and fashion journalist Eva Chen; and head of Intagram Adam Mosseri. 

“This award is for the creators who don’t just participate in culture—but shift it, break through whatever barrier holds them back to realize their ambitions. Because every act of creativity, big or small, can lead to something great,” Instagram said in its press release.

“We’re witnessing a new era of digital entertainment,” Maria Rodriguez, vice president of marketing and communications at Open Influence, a creator marketing company, told Fast Company. “Just as the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys celebrate excellence in film, television, and music, it’s only fitting that we recognize the talent, innovation, and artistry thriving on the platforms where audiences now spend most of their time.”

Keep an eye out for the exclusive gold ring around each winner’s profile.

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